Armory redevelopment plan aims for improvements, historical preservation 

The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a pre-submission conference on Wednesday to discuss plans for the renovation of the city's historic Armory building.  

The redevelopment plan proposes to transform the Armory building into a multi-purpose arts center. This change will include spaces for community assembly, arts education programs, and facilities to support arts-related businesses.  

Located at 525 Eastside St. SE, the Armory building is developed on a full city block and includes two primary buildings – the main armory building and an annex. It also features open green spaces to the north, south, and east of the building, as well as an existing central paved area between the annex and armory building.  

The proposed site improvements for the Armory project include: 

• Adding covered areas for bicycle parking near the main entry on Eastside Street and at the rear of the building.  

• Relocating the historic butler shed to the north lawn for storage and future community gardening.  

• Upgrading the paved areas between the annex and Armory for accessibility and stormwater improvements.  

• Replacing the existing main entry ramps to improve accessibility.  

• Constructing a new solid waste enclosure at the northwest corner of the site. 

• Providing new electric vehicle charging stations along the southeast corner of the parking area.  

• Plans also include a new maintenance shop and storage building with a large outdoor covered area at the north end of the annex, as well as a new outdoor covered workspace along the south end of the annex.

The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee hears a proposal for the renovation of the Armory Building on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.

Planning and engineering review 

Olympia City planner Paula Smith outlined several considerations for the project's conditional use permit. She emphasized the need for the plans to clearly define spaces and uses within the building, both interior and exterior.  

Smith said the site is now located within the downtown exempt parking area, meaning vehicle parking is not required but bike parking will be necessary.  

The city planner noted that the building has four street frontages. She told the project team that they need to establish which frontage should be considered the "front yard" for setback purposes.  

Smith recommended considering Legion Way as the front yard, which would require a 20-foot setback. It would also allow the Quince Street boundary to be considered a side flanking street, which has a zero-setback requirement. This approach would keep the existing building and proposed additions conforming to the setback code.  

If Eastside Street were considered the front, Smith said it would render the building in the back to be non-conforming, and the proposed additions might not comply with the code requirements. 

Regarding landscaping, Smith said that if the project exceeds 50% of the assessed value of the property, it will trigger compliance with landscaping requirements. If that is the case, she suggested seeking out an alternative landscaping plan – in coordination with the historic preservation team – to address the landscaping requirements in a way that respects the historic character of the site. 

Tiffany King, the senior engineering plans examiner, said the project would be considered a redevelopment and would need to comply with the city's 2022 drainage design and erosion control manual. She recommended a stormwater scoping meeting to ensure the project meets the requirements.  

King noted the presence of café seating in the plans, which led her to believe there was an intention to include a café on the site. She said the project team needs to address organic waste requirements, as state laws are changing to mandate organic collection in the future.  

King mentioned that any modifications to the site, including the proposed additions, will trigger frontage improvements. This requirement will necessitate undergrounding utilities and access ramps.  

She explained that the changes to the site are anticipated to increase the Average Daily Trips (ADTs), which is the basis for requiring these frontage upgrades. The city will need to evaluate the transportation impacts based on the mix of proposed uses, such as office, educational, and café spaces, to determine the appropriate frontage improvement requirements. 

There may be some flexibility on the frontage improvements required along Legion Way to protect the existing historic trees in that area. The city may allow deviations from the standard requirements to accommodate tree preservation. 

Historic Preservation 

Brittany Gillia, Historic Preservation officer, highlighted the need to preserve key architectural features of the armory, such as the main entry, drill room, and structural columns.  

Jasen Johns, the city's urban forester, highlighted the importance of protecting the historic trees along Legion Way, which are designated as memorial trees for World War I veterans.  

"We spent a great deal of money on maintaining those trees… Special care should be taken in their protection, which is why I am requiring a level two soil and vegetation plan," Johns said, adding that it would require a qualified forester to develop a plan for tree protection.